MANDAT INTERNATIONAL ALIAS FONDATION POUR LA COOPERATION INTERNATIONALE

Their core work

Mandat International is a Geneva-based foundation specializing in international cooperation within digital research ecosystems. They facilitate coordination, standardization, and policy alignment across large-scale EU research initiatives in IoT, 5G, and digital infrastructure. Their practical contribution lies in bridging European and international research communities — particularly EU-China collaboration on next-generation networks — and supporting the governance, interoperability testing, and user engagement dimensions of technology pilots. They also bring expertise in regulatory and legal aspects of emerging digital technologies, including data protection and cybersecurity.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2015–2018), Mandat International focused on interoperability testing, standards development, privacy regulation, and early 5G roadmapping — essentially the governance and compliance layer of emerging digital technologies. From 2019 onward, their focus shifted decisively toward large-scale digital infrastructure (SLICES, PLATOON), applied IoT in vertical sectors like water management and health, and deeper EU-China cooperation on 5G deployment. The trajectory shows a clear move from foundational standards work toward operational infrastructure and real-world digital applications.

They are moving toward large-scale pan-European digital research infrastructure (SLICES) and sector-specific IoT deployments, making them a strong partner for future infrastructure and applied digitization projects.

How they like to work

Mandat International operates exclusively as a consortium participant — they have never coordinated an H2020 project, which strongly suggests their value lies in facilitation, international liaison, and governance rather than technical project leadership. With 226 unique partners across 30 countries, they are a highly connected hub organization that brings diverse networks to every consortium they join. Their participation across CSA, RIA, and IA funding schemes indicates versatility — they contribute to policy coordination actions as readily as to research and innovation projects.

Exceptionally broad network with 226 unique consortium partners spanning 30 countries, reflecting their role as an international cooperation foundation based in Geneva. Their geographic reach extends beyond Europe through EU-China collaboration projects in 5G and IoT.

What sets them apart

As a Geneva-based international cooperation foundation, Mandat International occupies a rare niche: they are neither a university nor a technology company, but a governance and coordination specialist embedded in digital research consortia. Their unique value is connecting European research ecosystems with international partners (particularly China on 5G/IoT) while handling the policy, standardization, and legal compliance dimensions that technical partners often neglect. For consortium builders, they offer a proven track record of operating across 30 countries and 226 partners — few organizations match this breadth of collaborative experience.

Highlights from their portfolio

• NAIADES
  Their highest-funded project (EUR 386,500), applying IoT and AI to urban water management — a significant departure from pure digital infrastructure into environmental applications.
• SLICES-SC
  Their most recent project (2021–2024) and second-highest funding (EUR 346,000), positioning them in the core of Europe's next-generation computing/communication research infrastructure.
• 5G-DRIVE
  EU-China harmonization of 5G trials with EUR 253,360 funding, demonstrating their distinctive role bridging European and Asian research ecosystems.